Always thinking like a customer was one of Indra Nooyi's habits throughout her time leading PepsiCo…
Ms. Indra Nooyi – Photo: CNBC.
Born in India, Indra Nooyi, 62, is one of the few people running an S&P 500 company. During her 12 years as PepsiCo CEO, she turned it into one of the world’s most successful food and beverage companies.
Recently, Nooyi announced that she would step down as CEO but remain chair until early 2019. CNBC recently compiled the habits that have helped this female leader succeed over the years.
1. Imagine You Are President
As children living in India, Nooyi and her younger sister often played a game with their parents at family dinners. Their mother asked the girls to imagine they were a prime minister, president or another world leader. At the end of the meal, they would deliver a speech in that role, and their mother would decide the winner.
While passing many traditional values on to her daughters, Nooyi's mother also encouraged them to become who they wanted to be.
That game built Nooyi's confidence. Later, in business school, she said many male classmates doubted her abilities. Yet she overcame everything and strengthened her skills.
In a 2015 talk, she said she often told herself: “I can do this better than anyone. If something goes wrong, they will come to me and say, ‘deal with it.’ Remember, I could be president of India.”
2. Develop appropriate skills
Find skills that serve you well and hone them, Nooyi once told LinkedIn editor Daniel Roth. When a problem arises, you want people to immediately think of you as the only person who can solve it.
Nooyi says she draws extensively on her research skills to simplify complex issues. ‘Throughout my career, I have been known for simplifying complicated things, whatever the issue,’ she shares. ‘When someone gives me a complex problem, I become a student. I do not care whether I am CEO, chairperson, or chief financial officer.’
As CEO, she made the difficult decision to overhaul PepsiCo's information technology systems. To understand the technology and what was needed, she read 10 books on the subject during a holiday and called professors for further explanations. This not only deepened her understanding and helped her identify the right solution, but also enabled her to overcome skeptics resistant to change.
“When you have a capability that no one else has, you become more valuable,” Ms. Nooyi said.
3. Think like a customer
As CEO, Nooyi manages over 26,000 employees worldwide and more than 100 brands and labels. In her early years in charge, she visited grocery stores every week to see how PepsiCo products looked on the shelves.
She photographed the products and their shelf positions, then sent the images to the design and marketing departments. Thinking beyond a particular project or task to serve an overall purpose or mission will inspire you and help you focus. It will also help you find the solutions you need.
“I am the gatekeeper of my family,” Ms. Nooyi once shared. “That means I view our business through a different lens and return to tell my people whether things are right or not. I am more than a CEO; I am also a customer.”
4. Express gratitude
Not long after becoming PepsiCo's CEO, Nooyi returned to India to visit her mother. Many people came to congratulate her mother during the visit. She suddenly realized that the parents of her wonderful employees rarely received such recognition. Afterward, Nooyi wrote more than 400 letters to the parents of senior executives to express her gratitude.
The parents who received the letters wrote back saying they felt honored. Some senior executives said: “This is the best thing for my parents and the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
Taking time to acknowledge the efforts of those who have supported you shows that you value their time and work. This will also encourage them to be more dedicated to you in achieving future goals.
5. Be strong
Ms. Nooyi was very anxious when moving from Chief Financial Officer to CEO. Despite having a carefully researched plan, the new position still unsettled her. Nevertheless, she put her worries aside to push ahead with her plan.
‘For the company, I have to project confidence, optimism, and a can-do, must-do spirit in everything,’ she said.
For example, her move to shift PepsiCo toward healthier products initially met with considerable investor opposition. Nevertheless, she remained determined to carry out the strategy. The New York Times reports that more than half of PepsiCo's revenue now comes from healthier drinks and snacks, up 38% from 2006.
In a statement in month 8, Nooyi said: “PepsiCo is in a strong position to continue growing, with its brightest days still ahead.”
Collected.
>> Great Articles on Entrepreneurship
